Her Climate Legacy - by Science Owl

Aim

Her Climate Legacy will empower 1,000 children with the inspiring story of an overlooked woman climate scientist through hands-on learning

The idea:

Her Climate Legacy aims to put an overlooked woman scientist back into the story of climate science, and into classrooms, through storytelling, live experiments, and hands-on learning.

Our goal is to reach 1,000 children throughout Women’s History Month in March with the story of Eunice Newton Foote, a foundational yet often-overlooked climate scientist from the 1800s. The project will inspire young people’s interest in STEM, while highlighting women’s often-hidden contributions to science.

What this funding will allow us to do:

£3 → one child is inspired by the story of a woman climate scientist
£90 → a whole class explores climate science through hands-on learning

How the idea started:

My name's Dr Renee Tonkin and I’m an environmental educator and science communicator. I’m the founder of Science Owl, where we create hands-on science experiences that show young people they can be active participants in environmental solutions while developing curiosity, confidence, and the STEM skills needed for the future green workforce. My work focuses on climate science, curiosity-led learning, and helping children see that science is something they can be part of, not something that belongs to a small group of adults.

The idea for Her Climate Legacy came from discovering the story of Eunice Newton Foote, a 19th-century scientist whose experiments with atmospheric gases helped lay the foundations of climate science decades before the greenhouse effect was widely recognised. Despite the significance of her work, Foote’s contribution was overlooked for more than a century.

I want to see a world where all contributions to science are valued and celebrated. My goal is to share stories like Eunice’s as loudly and proudly as possible. During Women’s History Month in March, Her Climate Legacy will deliver interactive climate science sessions for young people, combining storytelling, live experiments, and hands-on demonstrations using real scientific tools. The sessions connect past discoveries with today’s climate challenges and emerging technologies, helping students see how science is playing an integral part in addressing climate change.

The money raised will be used to reach 1,000 children, at a cost of £3 per child. This will cover:

• Materials and equipment for live climate science experiments
• Resources for hands-on demonstrations, including a handmade carbon dioxide monitor
• Delivery of sessions in schools and community settings throughout March

By supporting Her Climate Legacy, you will help inspire children's interest in STEM, celebrate an overlooked woman scientist, and give young people a more inclusive picture of how climate science came to be, and who gets to shape the future.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made